CreativeSound Blaster AE-7 Hi-Res Internal PCIe Sound Card, Quad-Core Processor, 127dB DNR ESS SABRE-class 9018 DAC, Xamp Discrete Custom Bi-amp, Discrete 5.1/Virtual 7.1, Dolby, DTS Encoding (Black)

Needed three 3.5 mm outputs for old 5.1 logitech X-540 speakers with green, black, and orange cables. Current motherboard's 5.1 setup has only two outs in back, requiring the third to be routed through a very noisy front output on case. Also, ALC4080 is overrated.Jump in sound quality and detail from realtek is very noticable on both speakers and headphones. In FPS gaming, can actually pinpoint the direction of where certain sounds (footsteps) are coming, or where in the sky spyplanes are overhead (Black Ops Cold War). Could not previously on the mess that is onboard audio.Music sounds beatiful, bold, and cinematic in Hogwarts Legacy. The clarity is bringing out details I previously blamed on diminished hearing from too many rock concerts.No problems with crackling. No static sound when I adjust the stupid Windows volume control. Doesn't pick up noise from GPU, though I do have it in the furthest slot away from it.Software is fine. I don't know why everyone keeps going on about it. The options are simple and straightforward.No adjustible RGB like the AE-5 Plus (powered via a separate molex cable). The logos on the top and back are a fixed, warm, white light.Lastly it comes with an audio control module for the desktop with two pairs of jacks (6.3 & 3.5 mm) for heaphones/mic. Volume knob adjusts level smoothly, much better than the jerky volume control on my keyboard.Audiophiles will probably read this, scoff, and start ranting about DACs and receivers, but this was absolutely worth it.

I was never a real fan of the RGB craze. I mean it is cool, but it was all fluff.. I am silicon dating myself here.. I remember going to Electronics Boutique's (before it became EB games) at the mall and EggHead looking at the newest sound blaster 16. Then I remember getting the Audigy and then Audigy 2.. then the RX... but that was all before 2008ish... Creative kinda went silent when it came to innovating the next big audio jump.. I do not blame them with MP3s with so called "cd quality" - 128bit I mean what was the point? 24bit audio was way more than enough. recording while respectable still did not hold their own to the dedicated capture cards. They re-focused their attention to other products.Then they came out with the 32bit pro audio. FINALLY. Not that it really means anything at this point. I do not know of anything out there that can take advantage of that kind of fidelity. I was excited to see the AE-7 card designed for gamers. 127db 5.1 discreet surround or 7.1 virtual. with a ESS SABRE 9018 DAC. Plus a custom Bi-amp dedicated/designed for audiophile grade headphones with an impedance of 1 - 600ohms.I picked up this card because a neon green brand with 3 snakes told me I could no longer get replacement ear pads for less than a two year old headphones from them and they recommended I get new ones. So I did.. I picked up the EPOS I Sennheiser GSP 600. Respectably a starter audiophile headphone. amazing gaming headphones. I spend most of my day on headphones from work using MS teams, music.. Pandora, FLAC, or movies either digital or streamed. they all sound amazing. audio is super crisp. Windows 10 did not have a issue with the drivers like some other card MFGs.Their software is actually really good. like Nvidia as with optimized graphic profiles per game they have done the same type of optimization. Like an EQ but it is much more tuned to the type of game than just adjusting hertz. I probably hear the footsteps in CoD much clearer and louder than my opponent.I think the days of games having tailored audio based on the chip (like what they did with Audigy) are gone, but I think creative has taken the correct step in still being able to bring you that type of experience.This is not a cheap card, but IMHO it is the best card when compared to the other cards on the market at a similar price point. it does not have all the added accessories like some of the others, but I think if you were able to put them head to head you can hear the difference. If you plan on using $30 headphones I wouldn't bother.It is a lot harder to gauge audio. everyone hears differently some folks hear frequencies better/worse than others... and you cannot really pause it and study the difference like you can with a graphics card or tv. I can tell you that for me personally. I can hear the difference. I have had a noticeable difference in my gaming performance across the board. music sounds better. The mic is really good as well. I can speak normal and have not had a complaint from anyone that I was too loud or to soft. no hissing or buzzing. Even though that is more of a headphone thing it does attest to the protection they put in place on the hardware to minimize EMI interference from the rest of the PC components. That being said I would still recommend putting the card as far away from the other cards as possible! lol.I do have one gripe. switching between the headphone and speaker inputs is done in software. not a big deal it opens quickly and is easy to get to I just wish there was a toggle switch I could add to the taskbar or a right-click option on the service icon in the notifications area or a button/switch on the volume command thingy that sits on your desk.Anyway... that is it. I hope this helps you decide one way or another. OH for those looking for some RGB goodness it has some.. minimal but some. just my style.

First off the bad... The dial volume controller that I received might be faulty... but it isn't balanced between the left and right channels. If that is important to you just plug your headphones or speaker system directly into car.. I purchased mine on sale as a refurbished model so please check yours to make sure. I'm also using $1,200 headphones which make the difference stand out like a sore thumb.. On my Bose QuietComfort25 it's less noticeable. So keep that in mind.The card itself is AWESOME!! the specs are amazing... getting .0001 THD at 384kbpsk is impressive! If you need better check out RME they are 600% more expensive with better audio ratings though not as powerful as an amp...My headphones the Audeze lcdxc require at the lowest level the exact amount the RME Dac does at full spec so I'm sticking with the AE-7 to push them.I haven't used any of the 7.1 modes because I don't game much on my pc... I have a ps5 soo... though the small amount i did with call of duty and starwars fallen order which I got discounted last Christmas was sick. The foot steps and sound imaging in game play was cool and made my sensory perception heightened which improved my experience and abilities in the games.I had some driver issues at one point and the tech support was there to help with software which does a full system trouble shooting scan and then tells them how to help. It wasn't fun but got the job done.There are multiple settings for headphones so If you're using 80ohm or 250ohm beyerdynamic studio sets they have you covered. I personally can't turn this card up to 100% without causing damage to my ears at the lower settings... It's freaking powerful and clean all the way up. I switched to this card after using a Motu Traveler MK3 and instantly heard a difference when switch it in Direct Mode which doesn't allow for eqing but is the best output. I then route that into the Motu and use it's eq and still hear the difference.Honestly if you're into sound production I would purchase one of these or slightly lower model over most of the options out there for at lease the first stage of output. It's cleaner and has more power giving you future-proofing that other devices don't. Lastly my friend bought one of these back in highschool... the top of the line model and it still works to this day. I'm 37...I almost wish I invested in the one step up because it has the XLR option though the cable to the back of the card connection is short one reviewer pointed out... I put my PC in another room so that's just not an option.IMO this is the best option on the market if you need to buy a sound card... most people are good with MOBO sound and there are other options out there like HeSuVi for 7.1 headphone encoding and eqing which is free... but you're not going to get the clean and loud output options of this device...The last thing... I wish the eq had a little more control, like Q settings, .01 adjustments, an advanced setting for more programmable frequency selections... and a better graphical output otherwise I use additional eq software. Awesome Product regardless.